New York police probe hate crime after Jewish man attacked

NEW YORK • New York police were conducting a hate crime investigation after several people shouting anti-Semitic slurs attacked a Jewish man while pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated in Times Square.

Five or six men beat and pepper-sprayed the 29-year-old man late on Thursday, a police spokesman said.

Officers arrested a 23-year-old man, identified as Waseem Awawdeh, on suspicion of taking part in the assault, and were searching for the others who were involved, as well as witnesses.

The victim was in stable condition in hospital, according to police.

The attack came as protesters gathered in Times Square shortly after a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian movement which controls the Gaza Strip, after 11 days of conflict. Scuffles broke out between the protesters, and police arrested 26 people.

Mr Jonathan Greenblatt, director of the Anti-Defamation League, said that since the outbreak of fighting in Israel, there has been a 50 per cent increase in anti-Semitic acts in the United States.

He pointed to a number of incidents in several states, including two incidents this week in Los Angeles, where supporters of the Palestinians attacked Jewish men sitting outside a restaurant, and also threw bottles at homes of Jews that had the traditional mezuzah parchment on their doors.

"We have seen a dangerous and drastic spike in anti-Semitism here at home in just the past week to 10 days," said Mr Greenblatt.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE